This restaurant was fabulous and is on my top 10 places to revisit when I return to NY. I literally could have dined here nightly and been extremely happy. We were greeted at the door by the owner who was quite charming and immediately led to a lovely dining area with linen draped tables. Our server was fantastic and we joked that we wondered if he was wearing a wedding ring so that we might take him home. I ordered the fish special and my friends enjoyed baked clams, burrata, and pasta dishes. We shared dessert cannoli along with some of us enjoying espresso martinis to cap off a fantastic meal. This place had a neighborhood feel and it was apparent that several of the patrons are regulars. Why cook when this place is in your neighborhood? The table talk and jovial atmosphere all contributed to a fantastic dining experience and looking forward to returning. read more

Sam's Place - Menu posted - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We have to be honest about the experience. After ordering, the table next to me informed the waiter of a roach on the wall and the waiter killed it. My mussels appetizer came and it was about 10 mussels. There were several broken shells which should be thrown out before cooking. The whole order of mussels was not fresh. Literally spat several mussels out. All the professional looking photos and good reviews. Honestly considered leaving several times given the roach and mussels. Wanted to leave but felt obligated to stay given the generally good reviews of this restaurant. . The veal entree came and I will say that the veal was good but it was such a tiny portion. Maybe 4 ounces. The artichoke and olives that came with it kind of spread out making it looks like more than it was. This place has nice tablecloths and attentive waiters but this was a terrible experience -- and was just glad to get out of there. The table who found the roach said the owner wasn't there tonight to talk to. As you can see from the below, I attempted to speak privately with the owner but the email was rejected because their mail box is full. read more

Sam's Place - Attempted to address concerns over the roach and bad mussels but no way to contact owner to discuss. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The veal dishes are excellent! The veal was so tender. Also delicious were the crab cakes with vodka sauce, seafood salad and cannoli. I've walked past this restaurant many times and never thought it was an Italian restaurant. It's our new favorite spot for authentic Italian food! The service was also excellent! read more

Superb food and service. The owner Maximo welcomes everyone as if you are coming home for dinner. Food was excellent and very tasty. Service is excellent and they anticipate your need because you ask for something. Definitely recommend as a place to visit. read more

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Food was okay, bread seemed like it was day old bread. My son liked the chicken parm dinner he had but my chicken dish was just average. The atmosphere is nice and the owner greeted us at the table which was nice. Service was great. The only sour part that makes me not want to return was the group of 3 next to us that were making derogatory comments about Americans. Seemed like they were regulars because they were known by the owner. Plenty of very good restaurants in nyc so the patrons at this restaurants have made me reluctant to return. read more

Great food, comfortable ambience & specially great service. It's a go to for us. Everyone knows we love Sam's. read more

Step into the past with this cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant. Sam watches over the place to make sure everything is as it should be, and the service is personal and gracious. The food is delicious, with generous portions, and prices are reasonable (esp. by NYC standards). I hope to return on future NY trips. read more

One of my favorite old-fashioned Thai restaurants in Manhattan. Delicious food good service that old-fashioned attitude. If it's not on the menu, they'll see if they can make it for you. Been going there for years and never disappoint. read more

My family of four went for dinner Friday evening before heading to our hotel nearby. Everything, from the food to the vibes exceeded expectations! It was such a welcoming atmosphere--the owner makes it a point to greet every diner and the servers were very attentive. So glad we stumbled upon this spot after a long day of sightseeing. read more

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Pretty much a midtown food speakeasy. The decor is cozy & the entry is tucked away- not a place to be "scene".. intimate setting with an even more private 2nd level & fantastic service with fresh Italian cuisine - you can't ask for more than that just south of Grand Central. It's one of my neighborhood faves and I'm always happy to see the door open with Massimo there to greet his guests read more

I had high hope for this cozy old-school Italian joint in Murray Hill but was left disappointed by fairly mediocre food. We started out with the Caesar salad for two. It was a pile of very cold chopped romaine barely visible under a blanket of salty "parmesan," which was clearly from the first forkful grated at an industrial facility and neither aged nor Reggiano. It was shockingly salty. Sadly, the mains were no improvement. I ordered the veal forestiere. While the veal was tender and not over cooked, the sauce had no balance with too much going on: too many salty olives and capers, while not enough mushrooms. It was salty and aggressively seasoned. The house red, however, was a very nice and affordable generous pour. Service was efficient, albeit very impersonal. The bottom line is that in a city with so many great Italian restaurants, I would neither recommend now return. read more

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A neat little spot in Midtown. Food is OK, you mostly come for the ambience and friendly service. Came here recently with some friends with a reservation, overall had a good experience but I wasn't blown away. The menu is fairly simple - nothing too complicated. Staff are happy to make you something that's not listed, which is fun. Ordered their calamari as an appetizer, which was the tastiest option by far. The entree I had was OK but not nearly as good as I was hoping - got the veal cutlet parmigiana, which was dripping with oil / somewhat greasy. It didn't taste bad or anything, but it definitely wasn't worth the $30 price tag. Followed this up with some tiramisu, which was alright / decent. Spent something in the neighborhood of $60-$70 (glass of wine and tip included). I'm glad I tried this place out, but would likely not go out of my way to return. read more

My coworkers raved about this place and it did not disappoint. The baked clams are delicious. I also tried the calamari and they are not overly breaded with a nice fresh taste. For entrees, we ordered the chicken parm with a side of penne alla vodka. You can also order the chicken parm with vodka sauce. The portion size is huge. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. The space is small but great for quality food. read more

Sam's Place - Chicken parmesan and penne alla vodka - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Outstanding local find Great food great service If it's not on the menu- they will make it for you! read more

Old school Italian spot on 39th and Lex . Very cool vibes . We got the App Special which was a tasty grilled Calamari that they split onto 2 plates for us . My main was also the pasta Special of Gnocchi in vodka sauce and was really good and also such a nice portion that I ended up taking some home. My friend got the bone in Veal Chop and he liked that a lot . Now they don't have a Cocktail menu but you can order any drink you like and they'll make it. I got a Margarita and it was perfect. Get some Tiramisu too. It was delicious. Bathroom is upstairs. Staff is friendly and professional. Stop by if you're near Grand Central. read more

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The food was the best Italian I've had outside of my grandmother's kitchen, the service was fantastic, and Sam himself was so warm and welcoming. This is a new addition to my favorite NYC spots--we will definitely be back! read more

Sam's Place - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing food! The service was incredible and friendly. The cozy feel was the best. One of my favorite places in New York City. Thank you Sam! read more

Sam's Place - Us In the best restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Intimate spot with friendly service and solid Italian food. The small homey room was crowded and could have stood more ventilation on a warm Friday evening - even a ceiling fan would have been helpful. Negroni cocktail to start was potent and flavorful, although I would have preferred less Campari and more gin in the mix. Have to say we thought the much touted Caesar salad for two was just so-so. Although the Romaine lettuce was fresh and plentiful, the cheese topping was dry and powdery rather than freshly grated, and the dressing was oily and overly tart with no croutons in sight. Hubbie loved his pasta with calamari, said the sauce was flavorful without being overpowering. My Veal Forestiere with olives and artichokes was extremely salty, would not get that dish again. Shared the tartufo for dessert, a generous globe of cold chocolately goodness. Reasonable pricing, ample portions, prompt service. I would definitely return to try out some different menu items. read more

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Sam's Place is a great authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Murray Hill! This small restaurant is full of character and charm with pictures of previous customers (of notoriety) on the wall. When we arrived the host poked fun at us for being a few minutes late. Although we did have a reservation, we had to wait ~10 minutes to be seated. Normally, this isn't an issue but there was no space to stand as people were exiting the restaurant which was not ideal (was too cold to wait outside). Once seated, we were given food menus. Not sure if there was a drink menu as we were not given one, but we ordered drinks a la carte. We ordered Calamri Marinara to share. This was absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend as a starter. I personally ordered the Pasta Nera. I'm a huge squid ink pasta fan and this did not disappoint! The mushrooms in this pasta dish added to the flavor and the sauce was absolutely delicious. We shared the Tiramisu -- definitely tasted good, but I have had better. Overall, this restaurant is a cute spot for a date night or to grab an authentic italian meal with friends if you are in the area. I probably would not come back but glad I tried it! read more

Sam's Place - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Sam's Place is a neighborhood gem. Mossimo is a wonderful host. The food is so good here. We've tried the salads, soups, pastas and many entrees. All truly delicious. The comped bread basket is great with butter and dipping oil. The wine list is good. The decor is homey. The waitstaff is always on point. read more

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A great neighborhood, traditional Italian restaurant. The food is delicious. The calamari in red sauce was delicious, perfectly cooked, seasoned and complex. I had the veal marsala with linguini which I also thought was perfect. The meat was tenderized, subtly coated and bursting with that delicious marsala sauce. The portions are large so definitely expect to take leftovers home. Their homemade, traditional cheesecake was the perfect way to finish the night. The staff were incredibly friendly and even encouraged to us to substitute different items on the menu to create a unique experience. read more

Sam's Place - Upstairs seating area - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I got the Fettuccine Alfredo, and I'll say it was very average. Personally I don't have a taste for fancy food, so it didn't impress me a lot. By no means is it a bad meal, it appeared small and ended up filling my stomach quickly! Waiter was very polite, and the host was also nice. In general the tables are close together so if you are worried about Covid that could be an issue if it is a crowded night. read more

Sam's Place - Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great food and super service! Where is welcoming and friendly. my friends and I go you go to it every time to celebrate special occasions for us read more

Sam's is my go to old fashioned family Italian restaurant. The owner is always friendly and welcoming and totally accommodating as are the longtime wait staff. The food is hearty and delicious and they are more than willing to prepare what you want even if it is not on the menu. The place is cozy and there is an upstairs room should you want to have a private party. read more

Absolutely love this gem. Sam's Place is an authentic, old school Italian spot, with all the charm. Been coming here for years, but recently came for Valentine's Day. Sam's Place was actually our first outdoor dining experience in the pandemic, and first indoor dining experience when it recently opened back up. So happy this place stuck around because I surely would miss it. Paired with the complimentary bread and breadsticks, and the martinis and wine, you can't go wrong with starters. All of the salads are great, we prefer the Caesar. Baked clams are small, but delicious. For entrees, we love both the chicken parm and eggplant parm (this is not on the menu but they will make it for you). These come with vegetables, but you can sub with pasta if you prefer. Other recommendations include their seafood linguini (also off menu but always available), and linguini with clams. Prices are reasonable for the portions. Service is always on point, and we love that the owner is always around checking on tables, he truly cares about his customer's experience. Throughout the years he has given us a few complimentary drinks or appetizers, which we really appreciated. I was even given a red rose when I came here on Valentine's Day. Love this place - can't recommend enough! read more

Sam's Place - Tri Insalata Tre Colori Salad and Baked Clams - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow! So happy to start my New Year dining experience at such a great establishment. All around a fantastic experience. I made a reservation on Google Assistant and they prepared a four seat table for us. The seating was comfortable. The napkin art was a nice touch. We couldn't be under the tent but they moved two heaters near our table to accommodate so we weren't cold. They treated us very nicely. The bread for the table was fresh and crunchy. We started with the calamari which had a fantastic sauce - more on the sauces later. I ordered the special clams stuffed with crab meat and shrimp. It was the large size because the small comes with three. It was toasted to perfection on top and I could see the real lumps of shrimp and crab! The clams sat on top of a LOVELY lemon sauce that put the dish on top. All of the people at the table live together and tried each other's dishes. The mussels were tender. The risotto wasn't overpowered with too much pesto. And the chicken portobello sauce was tangy and rich. Every plate was delicious and you wouldn't go wrong getting any of these. We also drank some nice wines and finished with the ricotta cheesecake and cappuccinos. I can't wait to visit again for the cute indoor dining one day. read more

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Sam's place is an Italian restaurant that's located in Murray hill. Recommended by a friend so we decided to check it out and I was not disappointed at all! The reviews raved about the Caesar salad so decided to give it a try. It's probably one of the best Caesar salads I've had. The baked clams were great but too small for my taste; was definitely a tease! We shared the salmon which was just as delicious. The only item that wasn't up to par was the chocolate cake - it tasted a bit minty to me but my friend thought it was fine. Owner/manager? Checked in on us twice and waiter was very attentive. Next time I may sit inside since the flies were loving the reisling! read more

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What a gem we discovered! Service was on point and super friendly. Cozy and intimate atmosphere. Reasonable prices for NYC. We thoroughly enjoyed the burrata appetizer special services with yellow and red roasted peppers and prosciutto. (Dove right in without taking a photo.) Chicken piccata typically served with steamed vegetables but I requested the swap for pasta. Very tasty. Chicken and pasta cooked perfectly. Different but interesting and tasty flavors... sauce did not include capers and had a hint of nutmeg! Bronzino special was prepared in a lemon butter caper sauce that had a beautiful balance and lovely texture. Spinach was perfectly executed and delicious. Too full for dessert, we asked for a slice of lemon cake to go. So light and airy I could've eaten the frosting alone by the spoonful. Definitely recommend and plan to return! Gracias! read more

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Very cozy atmosphere. Not too busy as it was a Tuesday night, so it didn't feel cramped. The two of us shared the caesar salad which was nice and cold with crispy romaine, however the dressing had no flavor, and there was lots of dry powdery parma on it which seemed overdone. We also shared a special risotto with porcini mushrooms. This was quite good. And then we both had veal dishes. I had the veal marsala and my husband had the piccata. Both were nice. Our small sampling of food was average overall. The prices are fairly typical for New York. We would be willing to give it another try and explore some other dishes just because the atmosphere and service was so charming. read more

Sam's outdoes itself even in the midst of social chaos. There is no better way to endure the normal by dining at the always above normal Sam's Place. #MassimoForPresident read more

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Every part of this experience was incredible, ambiance to warmth of Sam and Enrique make this a necessity on every one of our NYC trips. I've been here with my family of four now three times and once on a business trip. Every time the food is excellent and the service is unmatched in its excellence. It's a true neighborhood vibe! My daughter had two entrees she couldn't decide between so they did a half and half plate with both...did the same for dessert, half chocolate cake and half lemon cake. There is nothing they could have done to make the experience better, there are not enough stars to describe this restaurant! read more

Small tight slace upstairs for Groups. They tried to put 14 people at ONE table. NOT enough room. Then a second group came. Luckily we were done. Salad portion SMALL. Amount you would find under a crab cake. NOT a meal or appetizer or side salad. They should tell you it's small, not a meal ! read more

Cute hidden gem for a nice dinner! I had the angel hair primavera and enjoyed it thoroughly. The portion size was great and the meal was incredibly filling. The seating is fairly private and good for intimate dining. The service is great; the waiter and host were both very polite and professional. I recommend this place for a nice, private dinner. read more

Sam's Place - Angel Hair Primavera - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Felt like home. Great, attentive service and delicious food! Small hole in the wall type of place but made for a perfect evening with friends. Will definitely be returning! read more

A small, dark, quiet but energetic Italian eatery where the staff is professional, the food is fresh and delicious, and the specials are always worth it. read more

Food was excellent , very comfortable Restaurant great service . Food was excellent real italian cooking

Came here on a Friday night as a group of 10. Staff was very accommodating and they have a private-ish area upstairs where we were sat. The vibe was very old school Italian, as is evident with the menu options as well! Overall everyone was pleased with their dish. One critique I have is that I wish there were more vegetarian options on the menu. Currently, there was only an Alfredo pasta and a cheese ravioli to choose from. About half of my group was vegetarian so we all basically got the same thing. All the food was delicious, especially their red sauce. read more

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This restaurant is AMAZING. It is the perfect little Italian place. The staff makes you feel at home as soon as you walk in. I am a pescatarian so I wasn't sure what to order. Massimo, the owner, came to my table and recommended everything I would love. He talked to me about the history of the restaurant and it just felt like I was at home. I ultimately got the Shrimp Francese which was DELICIOUS. Literally the best shrimp francese I've ever had. The food, the staff and the owner are outstanding and I cannot wait to come back and try more! read more

Sam's Place - Shrimp Francese - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great little Italian restaurant by grand central area. The ambiance feels very homey as the restaurant is literally in the house. This restaurant is family owned and has been around for a long time. They have a wide selection of wine and the food is pretty good. read more

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My partner reviewed Sam's Place on 4/5/22, but Yelp is not showing it or factoring it into Sam's Place overall score, so I'll try. Visiting from California, we took a forty-minute subway trip from a neighborhood with several nice restaurants to Sam's Place, because it was recommended by a friend. We arrived at 9:05pm, their website & their front door indicate that they were open until 10pm. As we entered, the host seemingly had menus in hand, but we were told they were closed sent away. There were several customers still there, with 55 minutes until close. read more